Surfer killed by shark near Perth

West Australian police are searching for the remains of a male surfer killed in a shark attack south of Wedge Island, some 160km north of Perth.

The fatal attack occurred at 1pm NZT (9am WST) today, 4km south of the island, known as family holiday destination.

The man’s identity will not be released until his family is notified, police say.

“At this stage, no remains have been located,” police said.

The Water Police’s largest boat Falcon is en-route to the site of the attack to lead the search for the man’s remains.

A volunteer marine rescue service based at Lancelin, which has police on board, is assisting as quad bikes scour the beach.

A Water Police sergeant and officer from Jurien are jointly acting as incident controllers on the beach.

Dandaragan Shire President Shane Love said it was a tragic day for the small community, The West Australian reported.

It is the fifth fatal shark attack off the WA coast in the past 12 months.

On March 31, 33-year-old diver Peter Kurmann was taken by a shark in waters near Busselton in the state’s south west.

A 32-year-old American, George Wainwright, died after being bitten by a great white shark on October 22 last year while diving off the tourist destination of Rottnest Island offshore Perth.

Only 12 days earlier, 64-year-old Bryn Martin disappeared while taking his daily swim at Perth’s popular Cottesloe Beach. His Speedos were later found, with experts saying damage was consistent with a shark attack.

On September 4 last year, Kyle James Burden was attacked while bodyboarding at Bunker Bay, about 300km south of Perth.

WA Fisheries senior shark research scientist Rory McAuley recently said the state was the deadliest place in the world for shark attacks.

McAuley said there had been an “unprecedented” number of fatal shark attacks off WA in the past two years.

Last month, 62-year-old surf life saver Martin Kane was rescued by one of his fellow paddlers when a shark attacked his surf ski at Mullaloo beach in Perth’s northern suburbs.